Two-dimensional membrane structures having flow passages

ABSTRACT

A two-dimensional membrane layered structure may include a support substrate layer having a plurality of substrate passages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, a two-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of the support substrate layer, and a plurality of flow passages disposed between the support substrate layer and the two-dimensional membrane layer. The two-dimensional membrane layer may have a plurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The plurality of pores may comprise a first portion of pores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passages and a second portion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality of substrate passages. The plurality of flow passages may be configured to allow fluid to flow through the second portion of pores to the plurality of substrate passages.

BACKGROUND

Two-dimensional membranes are materials with a thickness on an atomicscale. Potential applications of two-dimensional membranes arewidespread, including their use in filtration, barrier, and separationdevices. Due to their atomic-level thickness, however, two-dimensionalmembranes often need to be disposed onto a support substrate to providethe needed mechanical support for its intended use. In addition, thesupport substrate may provide enhanced biocompability and/or easierdevice integration to the membrane structure.

When a two-dimensional membrane is applied to a support substrate, alarge fraction of the pores present in the two-dimensional membrane donot overlap with the passages present in the support substrate. Thus,fluid may only flow through those pores that overlap with the supportsubstrate passages. Those pores that do not overlap with the supportsubstrate passages are not utilized, resulting in low overall poreutilization in the membrane. In many cases, the overall pore utilizationfor these structures can be as low as 5%, leading to a lower overallfluid flow through the two-dimensional membrane structure.

To increase flow through the two-dimensional membrane structure and toincrease overall pore utilization, one method may be to increase thedensity of pores in the two-dimensional membrane such that the amount ofpores that overlap with the support substrate channels is increased.However, increasing the density of pores in the membrane may add to themechanical strain on the two-dimensional membrane and may maketransferability of large-scale membranes (e.g., >1 cm²) to the supportsubstrate difficult.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a two-dimensional membrane layered structure mayinclude a support substrate layer having a plurality of substratepassages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, atwo-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer, and a plurality of flow passages disposedbetween the support substrate layer and the two-dimensional membranelayer. The two-dimensional membrane layer may have a plurality of poresconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The plurality of poresmay comprise a first portion of pores that overlap with the plurality ofsubstrate passages and a second portion of pores that do not overlapwith the plurality of substrate passages. The plurality of flow passagesmay be configured to allow fluid to flow through the second portion ofpores to the plurality of substrate passages.

In some embodiments, the two-dimensional membrane layered structure maycomprise a plurality of interlayer supports disposed on an upper surfaceof the support substrate layer. The plurality of interlayer supports mayform the plurality of flow passages.

In some embodiments, the two-dimensional membrane layered structure maycomprise a plurality of grooves formed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer. The plurality of grooves may form the pluralityof flow passages.

In some embodiments, the two-dimensional membrane layered structure maycomprise a plurality of interlayer supports disposed on an upper surfaceof the support substrate layer and a plurality of grooves formed on anupper surface of the support substrate layer. The plurality ofinterlayer supports and the plurality of grooves may form the pluralityof flow passages.

In some embodiments, a two-dimensional membrane layered structure mayinclude a support substrate layer having a plurality of substratepassages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, atwo-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer, and a plurality of interlayer supports disposedon the upper surface of the support substrate layer. The two-dimensionalmembrane layer may have a plurality of pores configured to allow fluidto flow therethrough. The plurality of pores may comprise a firstportion of pores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passagesand a second portion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality ofsubstrate passages. The plurality of interlayer supports may beconfigured to form a plurality of flow passages that allow fluid to flowthrough the second portion of pores to the plurality of substratepassages.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interlayer supports may comprisecarbon nanotubes.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interlayer supports may compriseelectrospun fibers.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interlayer supports may bedisposed on an area of the upper surface of the support substrate layerranging from about 5% to about 50% of the total area of the uppersurface of the support substrate layer.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interlayers supports may befunctionalized.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interlayer supports may bedisposed on an area of the upper surface of the support substrate layerranging from about 40% to about 45% of the total area of the uppersurface of the support substrate layer.

In some embodiments, a two-dimensional membrane layered structure maycomprise a support substrate layer having a plurality of substratepassages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, atwo-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer, and a plurality of grooves formed on the uppersurface of the support substrate layer. The two-dimensional membranelayer may have a plurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flowtherethrough. The plurality of pores may comprise a first portion ofpores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passages and a secondportion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality of substratepassages. The plurality of grooves may be configured to form a pluralityof flow channels that allow permeate to flow through the second portionof pores to the plurality of substrate channels.

In some embodiments, the plurality of grooves may be formed on the uppersurface of the support substrate layer in a lattice pattern.

In some embodiments, the plurality of grooves may comprise a width ofabout 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers.

In some embodiments, the plurality of grooves may be functionalized.

In some embodiments, a method of increasing pore utilization in atwo-dimensional membrane layered structure may comprise providing asubstrate support layer having a plurality of substrate passagesconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, disposing a plurality ofinterlayer supports on an upper surface of the substrate support layer,and disposing a two-dimensional membrane layer having a plurality ofpores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough on the uppersurface of the substrate support layer having the plurality ofinterlayer supports. The plurality of pores may comprise a first portionof pores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passages and asecond portion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality ofsubstrate passages. The plurality of interlayer supports may form aplurality of flow passages. The plurality of flow passages may beconfigured to allow fluid to flow through the second portion of pores tothe plurality of substrate passages.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interlayer supports may comprisecarbon nanotubes and the carbon nanotubes may be disposed on the uppersurface of the support substrate layer via spray-coating.

In some embodiments, a method for increasing pore utilization in atwo-dimensional membrane layered structure may comprise providing asubstrate support layer having a plurality of substrate passagesconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, forming a plurality ofgrooves on an upper surface of the substrate support layer, anddisposing a two-dimensional membrane layer having a plurality of poresconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough on the upper surface ofthe substrate support layer having the plurality of grooves. Theplurality of pores may comprise a first portion of pores that overlapwith the plurality of substrate passages and a second portion of poresthat do not overlap with the plurality of substrate passages. Theplurality of grooves may form a plurality of flow passages. Theplurality of flow passages may be configured to allow fluid to flowthrough the second portion of pores to the plurality of substratepassages.

In some embodiments, the plurality of grooves may be formed in a latticepattern.

In some embodiments, a two-dimensional membrane layered structure maycomprise a support substrate layer having a plurality of substratepassages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, and atwo-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer. The two-dimensional membrane layer may have aplurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. Theplurality of pores may comprise a first portion of pores that overlapwith the plurality of substrate passages and a second portion of poresthat do not overlap with the plurality of substrate passages. Thetwo-dimensional membrane layered structure may further comprise a flowpassage means for allowing fluid to flow through the second portion ofpores to the plurality of substrate passages to increase overall poreutilization of the two-dimensional membrane layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure of FIG. 1 having fluid flow passages.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure having the flow passages of FIG. 2 according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure having the flow passages of FIG. 2 according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph of a supportsubstrate layer having interlayer supports to form fluid flow passages.

FIG. 6 is a detailed SEM micrograph of the support substrate layer ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments relate to a two-dimensional membrane layered structurehaving a plurality of flow passages formed between a two-dimensionalmembrane layer and a support substrate layer. The flow passages providean increase in pore utilization by allowing fluid to flow through poresin the two-dimensional membrane layer that do not overlap with passagespresent in the support substrate. With the flow passages, fluid may flowfrom the non-overlapping pores through the flow passages to a nearbysupport substrate passage. In some embodiments, the flow passages may beformed by interlayer supports laterally disposed on an upper surface ofthe support substrate layer and/or by grooves laterally formed on theupper surface of the support substrate layer. In addition to increasingoverall pore utilization of the membrane layer and total flow throughthe membrane structure, the flow passages may also provide sufficientsupport to the two-dimensional membrane without adding undesirablestrain to the membrane layer.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure 100. The two-dimensional membrane layered structure 100 mayinclude a two-dimensional membrane layer 110 having a plurality of pores115, and a support substrate layer 120 having a plurality of substratepassages 125 that extend along a thickness of the support substratelayer 120.

The two-dimensional membrane layer 110 may be a single-layertwo-dimensional material or a stacked two-dimensional material. Mostgenerally, a single-layer two dimensional material is atomically thin,having an extended planar structure and a thickness on the nanometerscale. Single-layer two-dimensional materials generally exhibit strongin-plane chemical bonding relative to the weak coupling present betweenlayers when such layers are stacked. Examples of single-layertwo-dimensional materials include metal chalcogenides (e.g., transitionmetal dichalcogenides), transition metal oxides, boron nitride (e.g.,hexagonal boron nitride), graphene, silicone, germanene, carbonnanomembranes (CNM), and molybdenum disulfide. Stacked two-dimensionalmaterials may include a few layers (e.g., about 20 or less) of asingle-layer two-dimensional material or various combinations ofsingle-layer two-dimensional materials. In some embodiments, thetwo-dimensional membrane layer 110 may be a graphene or graphene-basedtwo-dimensional material as a single-layer two-dimensional material or astacked two-dimensional material.

The support substrate layer 120 may include any appropriate planar-typesubstrate. In some embodiments, the support substrate layer 120 may bemade from ceramic porous materials, such as silica, silicon, siliconnitride, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, he supportsubstrate layer 120 may be made from a polymer material, such astrack-etched polymers, expanded polymers, patterned polymers, non-wovenpolymers, and combinations thereof. The support substrate layer 120 mayinclude a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfones,polyurethane, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene glycol (PEG),polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), PLA, PGA, polyamides (such asnylon-6,6, supramid and nylamid), polyimides, polypropylene,polyethersulfones (PES), polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF), celluloseacetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate,polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (such as Teflon), polyvinylchloride(PVC), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), mixtures and block co-polymers ofany of these, and combinations and/or mixtures thereof. In someembodiments, the polymers may be biocompatible, bioinert and/or medicalgrade materials. In some embodiments, the support substrate layer 120may be a track-etched polycarbonate (TEPC) membrane. In otherembodiments, the support substrate layer 120 may be a membrane formed bysilicon nitride, track-etched polyimide, track-etched polyester,track-etched SiN, nanoporous silicon, nanoporous silicon nitride, anelectrospun membrane, and/or a PVDF membrane. In some embodiments, thesubstrate passages 125 may be formed randomly or in a patterned manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, when disposing the two-dimensional membrane layer110 on the support substrate 120, only a certain percentage of pores 115overlap with the substrate passages 125. For example, a first portion ofpores 115 a overlap with, or are in fluid communication with, thesupport substrate passages 125. The first portion of pores 115 acontributes to overall pore utilization because they allow fluid to flowthrough to the substrate passages 125. On the other hand, a secondportion of pores 115 b do not overlap with, or fail to be in fluidcommunication with, the support substrate passages 125. Thus, the secondportion of pores 115 b does not contribute to overall pore utilizationbecause fluid cannot flow from these pores into the support substratepassages 125. Moreover, as further shown in FIG. 1, in some cases, asupport substrate passage 125 a may fail to be in fluid communicationwith any of the pores 115. Thus, this blocked support substrate passage125 a receives no fluid flow, thereby decreasing the overall utilizationof the support substrate passages 125.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the two-dimensional membranelayered structure 100 having a plurality of flow passages 155 disposedbetween the two-dimensional membrane layer 110 and the support substratelayer 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the flow passages 155 provide a means forthe second portion of pores 115 b to be utilized by providing a flowpath for fluid to flow from a respective pore 115 b to a nearbysubstrate passage 125. In some embodiments, the flow passages 155 mayalso provide a flow path from the second portion of pores 115 b to theblocked support substrate passage 125 a such that fluid may flow throughthe blocked support substrate passage 125 a. Thus, the integration ofthe flow passages 155 provide for an increase in the overall poreutilization of the two-dimensional membrane layer 110 and a means forincreased fluid flow through the support substrate layer 120.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the two-dimensional membranelayered structure 100 having flow passages 155 formed therein inaccordance with a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality ofinterlayer supports 150 may be disposed laterally on an upper surface126 of the support substrate layer 120. The two-dimensional membranelayer 110 is then disposed onto the upper surface 126 of the supportsubstrate layer 120 having the interlayer supports 150 disposed thereon.When layered, the interlayer supports 150 support the two-dimensionalmembrane layer 110 while pushing the two-dimensional membrane layer 110upward from the support substrate layer 120 to form the flow passages155 that allow fluid to flow through the pores 115 b.

The interlayer supports 150 may take numerous forms. For example, insome embodiments, the interlayer supports 150 may be carbon nanotubes.For example, FIGS. 5 and 6 show interlayer supports in the form ofcarbon nanotubes spray-coated onto an upper surface of a supportsubstrate layer in the form of a track-etched polyimide layer before thetwo-dimensional membrane layer is disposed onto the support substratelayer. As shown the figures, the carbon nanotubes are disposed onto theupper surface of the support substrate layer so as to extend laterallyacross the upper surface to provide access for fluid flow to thesubstrate passages. In some embodiments, the carbon nanotubes may besingle-walled or multi-walled.

In other embodiments, the interlayer supports 150 may be electrospunfibers. In yet other embodiments, the interlayer supports 150 may benanorods, nanoparticles (e.g., oxide nanoparticles,octadecyltrichlorosilane nanoparticles), fullerenes, collagen, keratin,aromatic amino acids, polyethylene glycol, lithium niobate particles,decorated nano-dots, nanowires, nanostrands, lacey carbon material,proteins, polymers (e.g., hygroscopic polymer, thin polymer, amorphouspolymer), hydrogels, self-assembled monolayers, allotropes, nanocrystalsof 4-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate, crystallinepolytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments,the density of the interlayer supports 150 may comprise about 5% toabout 50% of the total area of the upper surface 126 of the substratesupport layer 120 to provide a sufficient pore utilization increase tothe composite 100, while at the same time minimizing a decrease inmechanical support of the two-dimensional membrane layer 110. In someembodiments, the density of the interlayer supports 150 comprises 40 to45% of the total area of the upper surface 126 of the support substratelayer 120.

The interlayer supports 150 may be applied to the upper surface 126 ofthe support substrate layer 120 in any appropriate manner. For example,the some embodiments, the interlayer supports 150 may be carbonnanotubes that may be spray-coated in random orientations onto the uppersurface 126 of the support substrate layer 120. The spray-coating may becontrolled such that the density of the carbon nanotubes applied to theupper surface 126 may be fine-tuned. Other methods of disposing theinterlayer supports 150 onto the upper surface 126 of the supportsubstrate layer 120 may include, but are not limited to, electrostaticdeposition, drop casting, spin-coating, sputtering, lithography, ionbeam induced deposition, atomic layer deposition, or electron beaminduced deposition. Additional methods include the application ofelectrospun fibers by an electric field, the acceleration ofnanoparticles by a potential, or the use of an ion beam to irradiatematerial present on the upper surface 126 to form raised structures onthe upper surface 126 of the support substrate layer 120.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the two-dimensional membranelayered structure 100 having flow passages 155 formed therein inaccordance with a second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, beforetransferring the two-dimensional membrane layer 110 onto the supportsubstrate layer 120, a plurality of grooves 150′ are laterally formedonto the upper surface 126 of the support substrate layer 120 to formthe flow channels 155. As such, fluid may flow through the pores 115 bto the support substrate channels 125, thereby increasing the overallpore utilization of the two-dimensional membrane layer 110.

The plurality of grooves 150′ may be formed into the upper surface 126of the support substrate layer 125 by any appropriate means. Forexample, in some embodiments, the grooves 150′ may be formed by etchingthe upper surface 126. In other embodiments, the grooves 150′ may beformed by focused ion beam milling, lithography methods (e.g., optical,electron beam lithography, extreme UV lithography) on resists followedby suitable etching (e.g., reactive ion etching), block copolymer maskfocused on columnar and aligned structures followed by suitable etching,laser ablation, nanoimprint, scanning probe lithography, shadowmaskdeposition followed by suitable etching, or sparse aperture maskingmethods.

In some embodiments, the grooves 150′ may be formed in a regular,structured pattern, such as a lattice-like pattern, or in a randompattern. In addition, the grooves 150′ may be formed to have a depth anda width of about 1 nm to about 5 μm. In some embodiments, the depth andwidth may range from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm. In other embodiments,the depth and width of the grooves 150′ may range from about 50 nm toabout 250 nm. In certain embodiments, the density of the grooves 150′may comprise up to 50 to 75% of the total area of the upper surface 126of the support substrate layer 120.

Some embodiments, such as described above, allow for the formation offluid flow passages in a two-dimensional membrane layered structure. Insome embodiments, the flow passages may be formed by interlayer supportsdisposed on an upper surface of the support substrate layer. In otherembodiments, the flow passages may be formed by grooves provided on theupper surface of the support substrate layer. In yet other embodiments,the flow passages may be formed both by interlayer supports disposed onthe upper surface of the support substrate layer and grooves provided onthe upper surface of the support substrate layer. The fluid flowpassages may be formed between the two-dimensional support layer and thesupport substrate layer such that an increase in the amount of poresthat allow fluid to flow to passages in the support substrate layer maybe realized. Thus, the flow passages may result in an increase inoverall pore utilization in the layered structure without resulting in aloss of mechanical support provided to the two-dimensional membrane.

The two-dimensional membrane layered structures described herein havebroad application, including in water filtration, immune-isolation,(i.e., protecting substances from an immune reaction), timed drugrelease (e.g., sustained or delayed release), hemodialysis, andhemofiltration. Some embodiments described herein comprise a method ofwater filtration, water desalination, water purification,immune-isolation, timed drug release, hemodialysis, or hemofiltration,where the method comprises exposing a two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure to an environmental stimulus, and wherein the two-dimensionalmembrane layered structure comprises a two-dimensional membrane layerhaving a plurality of pores (e.g., a porous graphene-based material) anda support substrate layer having a plurality of substrate passages.

Some embodiments include methods of filtering water comprising passingwater through a two-dimensional membrane layered structure. Someembodiments include desalinating or purifying water comprising passingwater through a two-dimensional membrane layered structure. The watercan be passed through the two-dimensional membrane layered structure byany known means, such as by diffusion or gravity filtration, or withapplied pressure (e.g., applied with a pump or via osmotic pressure).

Some embodiments include methods of selectively separating or isolatingsubstances in a biological environment, wherein the two-dimensionalmembrane layered structure separates or isolates biological substancesbased on characteristics of the substance, such as size. Such methodscan be useful in the context of disease treatment, such as in thetreatment of diabetes. In some embodiments, biological substances belowa certain size threshold can migrate across the two-dimensional membranelayered structure. In some embodiments, even biological substances belowthe size threshold are excluded from migrating across thetwo-dimensional membrane layered structure due to functionalization ofthe plurality of pores, the plurality of substrate passages, theplurality of interlayer supports and/or the plurality of grooves.

In some embodiments, the plurality of pores, or at least a portionthereof, is functionalized. In some embodiments, the plurality ofsubstrate passages, or at least a portion thereof, is functionalized,for instance by attaching or embedding a functional group. In someembodiments, the plurality of interlayer supports and/or the pluralityof grooves, or at least a portion thereof, is functionalized, forinstance by attaching or embedding a functional group. In someembodiments, the functionalization moieties are trapped between twolayers, but are not restricted to a single position in the flow passages(i.e., they are mobile within the flow passages, but are inhibited fromtraversing the layers, e.g., based the size of the pores in thetwo-dimensional membrane layer). In some embodiments, functionalizationcomprises surface charges (e.g., sulfonates) attached to the pores,substrate passages, interlayer supports, and/or grooves. Without beingbound by theory, it is believed that surface charges can impact whichmolecules and/or ions can traverse the two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure. In some embodiments, functionalization comprises specificbinding sites attached to the pores, substrate passages, interlayersupports, and/or grooves. In some embodiments, functionalizationcomprises proteins or peptides attached to the pores, substratepassages, interlayer supports, and/or grooves. In some embodiments,functionalization comprises antibodies and/or antigens (e.g.,IgG-binding antigens) attached to the pores, substrate passages,interlayer supports, and/or grooves. In some embodiments,functionalization comprises adsorptive substances attached to the pores,substrate passages, interlayer supports, and/or grooves. In someembodiments, functionalization involves catalytic and/or regenerativesubstances or groups. In some embodiments, functionalization comprises anegatively or partially negatively charged group (e.g., oxygen) attachedto the pores, substrate passages, interlayer supports, and/or grooves.In some embodiments, functionalization comprises a positively orpartially positively charged group attached to the pores, substratepassages, interlayer supports, and/or grooves.

In some embodiments, functionalizing the pores, substrate passages,interlayer supports, and/or grooves functions to: restrict contaminantsfrom traversing the two-dimensional membrane layered structure; act as adisposable filter, capture, or diagnostic tool; increasebiocompatibility (e.g., when polyethylene glycol is used forfunctionalization); increase filtration efficiency; position theinterlayer supports (e.g., interlayer supports can be positioned nearthe pores via affinity-based functionalization in the pores; additionalspacers can be positioned in interlaminar areas); increase selectivityat or near the pores or in asymmetric two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure; and/or protect interlayer supports (e.g., from the externalenvironment or from a particular vulnerability such as degradation).

Some embodiments have been described in detail with particular referenceto preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effectedwithin the spirit and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A two-dimensional membrane layered structurecomprising: a support substrate layer having a plurality of substratepassages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough; atwo-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer, the two-dimensional membrane layer having aplurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, theplurality of pores comprising a first portion of pores that overlap withthe plurality of substrate passages and a second portion of pores thatdo not overlap with the plurality of substrate passages; and a pluralityof flow passages disposed between the support substrate layer and thetwo-dimensional membrane layer, the plurality of flow passages beingconfigured to allow fluid to flow through the second portion of pores tothe plurality of substrate passages.
 2. The two-dimensional membranelayered structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofinterlayer supports disposed on an upper surface of the supportsubstrate layer, wherein the plurality of interlayer supports form theplurality of flow passages.
 3. The two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grooves formedon an upper surface of the support substrate layer, wherein theplurality of grooves form the plurality of flow passages.
 4. Thetwo-dimensional membrane layered structure of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of interlayer supports disposed on an uppersurface of the support substrate layer and a plurality of grooves formedon an upper surface of the support substrate layer, wherein theplurality of interlayer supports and the plurality of grooves form theplurality of flow passages.
 5. A two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure comprising: a support substrate layer having a plurality ofsubstrate passages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough; atwo-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of thesupport substrate layer, the two-dimensional membrane layer having aplurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, andthe plurality of pores comprising a first portion of pores that overlapwith the plurality of substrate passages and a second portion of poresthat do not overlap with the plurality of substrate passages; and aplurality of interlayer supports disposed on the upper surface of thesupport substrate layer, wherein the plurality of interlayer supports isconfigured to form a plurality of flow passages that allow fluid to flowthrough the second portion of pores to the plurality of substratepassages.
 6. The two-dimensional membrane layered structure of claim 5,wherein the plurality of interlayer supports comprises carbon nanotubes.7. The two-dimensional membrane layered structure of claim 5, whereinthe plurality of interlayer supports comprises electrospun fibers. 8.The two-dimensional membrane layered structure of claim 5, wherein theplurality of interlayer supports is disposed on an area of the uppersurface of the support substrate layer ranging from about 5% to about50% of the total area of the upper surface of the support substratelayer.
 9. The two-dimensional membrane layered structure of claim 5,wherein the plurality of interlayer supports is functionalized.
 10. Thetwo-dimensional membrane layered structure of claim 5, wherein theplurality of interlayer supports is disposed on an area of the uppersurface of the support substrate layer ranging from about 40% to about45% of the total area of the upper surface of the support substratelayer.
 11. A two-dimensional membrane layered structure comprising: asupport substrate layer having a plurality of substrate passagesconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough; a two-dimensionalmembrane layer disposed on an upper surface of the support substratelayer, the two-dimensional membrane layer having a plurality of poresconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, and the plurality ofpores comprising a first portion of pores that overlap with theplurality of substrate passages and a second portion of pores that donot overlap with the plurality of substrate passages; and a plurality ofgrooves formed on the upper surface of the support substrate layer,wherein the plurality of grooves is configured to form a plurality offlow channels that allow permeate to flow through the second portion ofpores to the plurality of substrate channels.
 12. The two-dimensionalmembrane layered structure of claim 11, wherein the plurality of groovesis formed on the upper surface of the support substrate layer in alattice pattern.
 13. The two-dimensional membrane layered structure ofclaim 11, wherein the plurality of grooves comprises a width of about 10nanometers to about 1000 nanometers.
 14. The two-dimensional membranelayered structure of claim 11, wherein the plurality of grooves isfunctionalized.
 15. A method of increasing pore utilization in atwo-dimensional membrane layered structure comprising: providing asubstrate support layer having a plurality of substrate passagesconfigured to allow fluid to flow therethrough; disposing a plurality ofinterlayer supports on an upper surface of the substrate support layer;and disposing a two-dimensional membrane layer having a plurality ofpores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough on the uppersurface of the substrate support layer having the plurality ofinterlayer supports, the plurality of pores comprising a first portionof pores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passages and asecond portion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality ofsubstrate passages, wherein the plurality of interlayer supports form aplurality of flow passages, and wherein the plurality of flow passagesare configured to allow fluid to flow through the second portion ofpores to the plurality of substrate passages.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein the plurality of interlayer supports comprises carbonnanotubes and wherein the carbon nanotubes are disposed on the uppersurface of the support substrate layer via spray-coating.
 17. A methodfor increasing pore utilization in a two-dimensional membrane layeredstructure comprising: providing a substrate support layer having aplurality of substrate passages configured to allow fluid to flowtherethrough; forming a plurality of grooves on an upper surface of thesubstrate support layer; and disposing a two-dimensional membrane layerhaving a plurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flowtherethrough on the upper surface of the substrate support layer havingthe plurality of grooves, the plurality of pores comprising a firstportion of pores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passagesand a second portion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality ofsubstrate passages, wherein the plurality of grooves form a plurality offlow passages, and wherein the plurality of flow passages are configuredto allow fluid to flow through the second portion of pores to theplurality of substrate passages.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising forming the plurality of grooves in a lattice pattern.
 19. Atwo-dimensional membrane layered structure comprising: a supportsubstrate layer having a plurality of substrate passages configured toallow fluid to flow therethrough; a two-dimensional membrane layerdisposed on an upper surface of the support substrate layer, thetwo-dimensional membrane layer having a plurality of pores configured toallow fluid to flow therethrough, the plurality of pores comprising afirst portion of pores that overlap with the plurality of substratepassages and a second portion of pores that do not overlap with theplurality of substrate passages; and a flow passage means for allowingfluid to flow through the second portion of pores to the plurality ofsubstrate passages to increase overall pore utilization of thetwo-dimensional membrane layer.